Pocket Essentials: A Brief History of India

India, the world's largest democracy and second-most populous country, is a dynamic, thriving economy in the 21st century, made up of a diverse array of faiths and peoples united under one banner. Its history is a unique story of ancient empires and civilizations, some dating back to the earliest days of humankind. Ancient India was home to countless kingdoms with ever-changing borders, while diverse cultures and religions flourished over the years as foreign invaders and occupiers rose and fell. The country was under foreign rule from the early 19th century until the end of British rule and its independence in 1947. With its many languages, cultures, and religions, India is one of the most diverse countries in the world. Since the late 1980s, India has opened up to the outside world, encouraging economic reform and foreign investment, and is now being courted by the world's leading economic and political powers, including its former enemy, China. India is now a superpower with a thriving middle class, having made remarkable advances in areas such as information technology. It has launched a space program and famously boasts a massive film industry, with Bollywood films among the most watched in the world. At the same time, India still struggles with problems of poverty and illiteracy, and campaigns have been launched to alleviate these problems. A Brief History of India traces the remarkable trajectory from India, once a land of ancient empires and powerful kingdoms, to the prosperous and vibrant nation it is today.